Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he will not stand in the way of an impending change in Senate leadership, acknowledging that colleagues are poised to elect a new Senate president following a shift in numbers in the upper chamber.
In a social media post on Wednesday, June 17, Cayetano said he had spoken with Sen. Joel Villanueva and was informed that a new majority had been secured.
“And now, after speaking with Sen. Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate President. I will not stand in the way of that vote,” Cayetano said.
“No leadership in a democracy is ever permanent; every office we hold is a loan, never a possession. To whoever this chamber lawfully elects, I extend my congratulations and my cooperation in advance,” he added.
Cayetano’s statement effectively signaled his acceptance of the transition, even as he maintained that his tenure as Senate president was grounded in what he described as a mandate to pursue accountability and investigations.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as your Senate President,” he said in his online message.
He framed his short stint in leadership as part of a broader political and moral struggle, citing efforts linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects and criticizing what he described as political pressure surrounding Senate alignments.
Cayetano also thanked colleagues he said stood by him during the leadership contest, including Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, while acknowledging that others had shifted support under political pressure.
Despite stepping aside from the leadership role, Cayetano said he would continue pushing for investigations and legislation, including measures tied to disaster response, economic concerns, and corruption allegations.
He also criticized the pace of legislative work under the ongoing special session, saying priority bills had stalled despite earlier commitments from the executive branch.
Cayetano emphasized that he would respect any vote properly conducted within the chamber.
“If we are serious about working, then let us pass serious bills,” he said. “Give the Senate a proper vote, with a true quorum, and we will respect its result. That is all we ever asked.”
The expected leadership change comes amid shifting alliances in the Senate, with a new majority bloc reportedly forming behind an unnamed successor.
Cayetano did not indicate he would contest the transition, saying instead that he would continue serving as what he called a “public servant” outside formal leadership.
“I may leave the position of SP, but I am honored to still be your PS — your Public Servant,” he said.
